MICHAEL MOORE / Sentinel Staff Homeschoolers during a weekly gym class at the Keene YMCA including Anna Wullbrandt, 7 , foreground, of Walpole.
Last weekend, the Keene Sentinel published a couple of articles about New Hampshire homeschooling. Reportedly, there are more than 5,000 homeschooled kids. Right at Home by Kaitlin Mulhere noted the freedom and flexibility home educators enjoy using an eclectic approach, as well as unschooling.
Mulhere also posted Less Red Tape,which covers the changes made in the NH homeschooling law last summer. New Hampshire Families for Education has information on their website about the bills and the positive changes made for New Hampshire homeschoolers’ freedom.
I’m not sure how the often referenced education professor Joseph Murphy became interested in homeschooling, other than to research our ‘movement’ and write a book. Looking at his distinguished public education credentials, I suspect he doesn’t homeschool. There are definitely some quotes from him in the article that are rather protective of public schools and what home educated families are taking away from those institutions.
There are many homeschoolers who write books about homeschooling lifestyles, but they’re rarely quoted in articles like this. It’s odd. From the Right Mix article:
Yet what little research there is focuses on socialization and academic achievement, and that ignores the most central question, Murphy said.
If the majority of parents choose homeschooling chiefly to pass on their values, is it effective?
At least 3 percent of students in America are homeschooled, a larger population than the number who attend charter schools. But aside from advocates, nobody pays attention to homeschoolers, Murphy said.
I don’t know about New Hampshire, but in Illinois, our legislators and the Illinois State Board of Education pay attention to homeschoolers. We’d be happy to be ignored. I suspect New Hampshire legislators are now fully aware of their state homeschoolers and the passion for their families’ educational freedoms. Well done, New Hampshire homeschoolers.